The Department of Medicine’s virtual Research Day was an exciting venture for Dan Dressler, MD, professor of medicine, and his daughter, Rachel Dressler. During this year’s event, Rachel, a high school student, presented her award-winning research project on bacterial contamination of stethoscopes with the support of her father.
Rachel’s project was initiated at her middle school science fair last year, with her father serving as a supervisor and mentor. Her project won her school science fair, county science fair, and the Junior Pinnacle Award — the top middle school science project — at the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF). Rachel also presented her project at the Division of Hospital Medicine Research Day, and she has submitted for presentation at a national conference.
Keep reading to learn more about Dan and Rachel’s research, and how the father-daughter duo bonded over their impressive work.
Can you share more about your research?
Our research project’s goal was to determine bacterial contamination of stethoscopes from a hospital doctor’s white coat pocket, after simple cleaning, and after examining a single patient. Since it’s been demonstrated in the past that stethoscopes can become contaminated with bacteria, we wanted to figure out if stethoscopes (or some relevant percentage of stethoscopes) would become contaminated with bacteria even after seeing only one patient, and if bacteria could be eliminated with simple hand cleansing solution.
How was it to experience this year’s virtual Research Day as father and daughter?
Rachel: I appreciate learning so much about doing research and putting projects together. I don’t think I realized how much work and detail was required in keeping track of everything in a research project. As I’ve not presented at in-person medical conferences, I can’t really say I know anything different as a virtual conference. It was great — I just wish there was more time for questions.
Dan: I was so proud to watch Rachel present so eloquently at Research Day, and she didn’t miss a beat with the virtual format! We appreciate all the work and organization the DOM staff and faculty leads in putting this conference together and making it so successful, despite the challenges of the pandemic.
Rachel, what are your educational and/or career plans? How have you been inspired by having a father in medicine?
Rachel: I really hope to go into some field of medicine following high school and college. I’m not yet certain which particular field; I really enjoy everything medicine right now. I have been inspired by my dad, hearing about interesting, complex, and sometimes confusing cases that my dad describes from morning reports and ones that the residents and students have presented at conferences that I’ve been lucky to experience in the past with my dad.
Do you both have any advice for other high school students pursuing medical research?
Rachel: Ultimately, every student needs a mentor. I was lucky to have a mentor living with me. I recommend to any student to persevere to seek out and find mentors that love what you love and can support you to achieve your research goals.
Dan: Gain valuable skill sets that help you become an asset to medical research. An example would be learning statistics in high school, which could allow you to independently examine and analyze data, adding value to a medical research team. Another example would simply be exhibiting unfettered energy and enthusiasm about your research topic.
To learn more about Research Day 2020, visit our blog recap post.
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